Brake for textile spindles



19.67 W. OESTERREICHER 3,338,340

BRAKE FOR TEXTILE SPINDLES Filed Aug. 50, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 1 In van for 4/ a1 i617 dfferre/bl' r 1967 w. OESTERREICHER 3,338,340

, BRAKE FOR TEXTILE SPINDLES Filed Aug. 30, 1965 I I9 90 F lg. 2

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 1967 w. QESTERREICHER 3,338,340

BRAKE FOR TEXTILE SPINDLES Filed Aug. 30, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lhhhh llh Fig.7

mmmllmj 52 In van for: 4 0 2 r/wvtrdr United States Patent 3,338,340 BRAKE FOR TEXTHE SPINDLES Wolfgang Oesterreicher, Hohenstaufen, Germany, as-

signor to Zinser Textilmaschinen G.m.b.H., Ebersbach, Germany Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,689 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 1, 1964, Z 11,063 13 Claims. (Cl. 18875) The present invention relates to a brake for a textile spindle, and more particularly to a brake for spinning and twisting spindles which includes a flexible resilient member deformed by a pressure medium to actuate the brake.

The German patent 1,151,206 discloses a brake serving the same purpose, and including a hollow flexible member into which a pressure medium is supplied. However, the hollow flexible member according to the prior art has the disadvantage that it has to be bonded together of two separately manufactured parts at comparatively high cost.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of spindle brakes according to the prior art, and to provide a reliably operating, inexpensively manufactured spindle brake.

Another object of the invention is to use an inexpensively manufactured simple flexible means for actuating a spindle brake.

Another object of the invention is to attach an inexpensive flexible member to a rigid support to form a pressure chamber.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises brake means for engaging and braking a textile spindle; rigid support means, which are preferably part of a housing; and flexible means forming with the support means a pressure chamber. When a pressure medium such as compressed air or oil is supplied to the pressure chamber, the flexible means is deformed toward the brake means and operates the same to brake the spindle.

The flexible means is an elastic resiliently deformable wall which can be manufactured at low cost, is easy to assemble, and can be exchanged without difficulties when damaged or Worn out.

The flexible wall according to the invention can be differently constructed. In one embodiment, the flexible wall has a U-shaped cross section with leg flanges whose edges are clamped against a rigid support member, preferably by a pair of housing parts. In another embodiment of the invention, the flexible wall is a cylindrical or flat circular member whose edges are pressed against a rigid support member formed with a cavity which is closed by the flexible wallmember so that the same is deformed when a pressure medium is supplied into the cavity of the rigid support member.

Annular flexible walls have the advantage that several brake jaws surrounded by the flexible wall can be simultaneously actuated to embrace a portion of the spindle in a braking position.

However, in order to provide suflicient space for a spring urging the brake jaws apart, the flexible means may extend only along a part of a circle, for example an angle of 270.

The rigid support member which forms the pressure chamber with the flexible wall may be located inwardly or outwardly of the flexible wall, or flexible walls may be arranged on opposite sides of the brake means for urging the same against a braked portion of the spindle.

In this construction, the circular edges of two flat circular flexible rings are clamped between the rigid housing parts which form pressure chambers on opposite sides of the flexible rings.

The novel features which are considered as character- .istic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line B-B in FIG. 1, the cover of the brake housing being omitted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and illustrating a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modification of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line EE in FIG. 6, and illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line CC in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a threaded portion of a spindle bearing housing 2 passes through an opening in the horizontal wall of the spindle rail 1 and is threaded into the bottom wall 8 of a pot-shaped housing part 9 closed by a cover plate 25. A washer 4 is urged by a nut 3 on the threaded portion 5 to pull bottom plate 8 against the spindle rail 1 so that bearing housing 2 is firmly secured to the spindle rail, together with housing 9, 25. Bolts 26 pass through corresponding openings in cover plate 25 and in projecting lugs 90 of housing part 9 to secure housing parts 9, 25 to each other. A textile spindle 10 is mounted in the usual manner in the bearing housing 2, and includes a brake drum 12 located in housing 9, 25, and a whorl or pulley portion .11 which is used for rotating the spindle.

Brake means including a pair of brake jaws 15, and brake linings 18 are mounted on bottom plate 8 by means of a pair of pivots 16 and are urged apart by a spring 19 to assume a position spaced from the outer cylindrical surface of brake drum 12, as shown in FIG. 3. A flexible means 20 has U-shaped cross-section as best een in FIG.

1, and includes a pair of flange walls located on opposite sides of a rigid support member 22 which extends for approximately 270 along a circle. End walls of flexible means 20 are located between the ends of the rigid support member 22, and inner projections of the housing part 9, as best seen in FIG. 2.

The flexible wall means 20 and the rigid support member 22 form a pressure chamber 91 to which a pressure medium, such as compressed air or oil is supplied through aligned passages 28 in housing part 9 and rigid support member 22.

The height of the flexible wall means 20 is selected so that the flange portions thereof are firmly clamped and pressed against the end faces of rigid support member 22 when the bolts 26 are tightened to press cover plate 25 toward the pot-shaped housing part 9. In this manner, the pressure chamber 91 can be sealed reliably by slightly compressing the flange portions of the flexible wall means 20.

When the pressure medium is supplied through passages 28, the inner part-circular wall of flexible means 20 is deformed and urged inward to engage brake jaws 15 which are turned about pivots 16 against the action of spring 19 to engage brake drum 12 of spindle 10 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The arrangement may be reversed by placing a flexible means 20 outwardly of the rigid support member 22 to engage outer brake jaws acting on the inner surface of a braked rum.

The means for supplying a pressure medium into passages 28 are not illustrated since they are well known. For example a pump or compressor may be connected through a valve to passages 28.

In the modified embodiment of FIG. 3, rigid support member 22 is circular or cylindrical, and the flexible means 20 is also circular, including a circular main wall and two circular flanges abutting opposite end faces of support member 22' and being clamped between housing parts 25 and 9 as described with reference to FIG. 1. In order to prevent bulging of the flexible wall means in the region between the ends of the brake jaws 15, an abutment 31 is secured to the bottom plate 8 of the housing and supports the respective portion of the flexible wall means 20'. A corresponding abutment 32 is provided in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 for supporting the portion of the flexible wall means between the pivotally supported ends of the brake jaws. FIG. 3 illustrates brake jaws 15 and linings 18 in the positions spaced from brake drum 12, and flexible wall means 20' in its normal position not deformed by the pressure medium.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be modified as shown in FIG. 4. Instead of providing a rigid support member 22 in a pot-shaped housing part 9, a housing part 23 is used as a rigid support for the flexible means 20 which has a U-shaped cross section, and may be circular or part-circular as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 2. In the latter case, a circular housing wall has an inner portion 23 having substantially the configuration of member 22. A pair of movable housing parts 8 and 25 are located on opposite sides of the ring-shaped housing part 23 and are pressed together by bolts 35. The flange portions of flexible means 20" have inner projections at the ends 21 located in corresponding grooves of housing part 23, and lip 79 located in corresponding grooves of housing parts 8 and 25. Since the height of flexible means 20 is greater than the height of housing part 23, the flange portions of flexible means 20" are pressed against housing part 23, and the pressure chamber formed between flexible means 20 and housing part 23 is tightly sealed.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4, the pressure chamber is obtained by the U-shape of the flexible means. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5, 6, and FIG. 7, the flexible means is flat and planar, and consequently very inexpensively manufactured. The pressure chamber is obtained by providing a suitable cavity in the rigid support means of the flexible means.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the flexible means 40 is a band of an elastic material which extends over the greater part of a circle or cylinder. The ends of the flexible band are clamped between projecting ridges 48 of a rigid support member 43, and an abutment 51 secured to the bottom part 8 of the housing. The rigid support member 43 extends over almost a circle, and the ends thereof are provided with flanges 46 through which a bolt 45 passes. Support member 43 has a cavity 43a, and two flange portions 43b abutting edge portions of the flexible wall 40 which in turn abut a pair of shoulders 40 on top part 25 and bottom part 8. By tightening bolt 45, the almost annular support member 43 is pressed into tight sealing engagement with the flexible wall 40 so that the pressure chamber 43a is closed, while the flexible wall 40 is clamped between the flange portions 43b of the rigid support member 43 and top and bottom plates 25 and 8. An inlet passage 50 is provided in support member 43 through which a pressure medium, such as compressed gas or oil is admitted into pressure chamber 43a whereby the flexible wall 40 is deformed and is displaced inwardly to urge a pair of brake jaws 15 to turn about pivots 16 on bottom part 8 against the action of a spring 19 to a position in which the brake linings 18 abut the brake portion 12 of the spindle.

It is possible to omit spring 19 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5, and to adhesively secure the brake jaws to the flexible wall, or attach the brake jaws in any other suitable manner to the flexible means 20, 20, 20" or 40. In this event, the flexible means must be positioned to hold the brake lining spaced from brake drum 12 until deformed by a pressure medium in the pressure chamber. The resiliency of the flexible means is suflicient to move the brake jaws away from the brake drum when the pressure in the pressure chamber is relieved.

While in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5, the flexible means are inwardly displaced when a pressure medium is supplied to the pressure chamber, the embodiment of FIG. 7 is concerned with a brake which moves in axial direction of the spindle.

The spindle bearing housing has a portion passing through the spindle rail 1, and a fixed flange 6 abutting the spindle rail 1 when a nut 3 is tightened. Due to the provision of flange 6, the brake housing, and more particular ly the bottom plate 8 thereof, need not be used as abutment for mounting the spindle bearing housing on the spindle rail.

The brake housing includes three parts, namely a top part 56, a bottom part 55 resting an the spindle rail and a circular part 719 between parts 55 and 56. Bolts 71 are spaced about the circumference of the brake housing and pass through bores in housing parts 56, 70, 55 into threaded bores of the spindle rail 1 to secure the housing parts to each other and to the spindle rail. Annular members 64, 65 have circumferentially spaced threaded bores into which bolts 66 and 67 project after passing through bores in bottom part 55 and top part 56. Spindle 11 has a brake flange which projects into the interior of the housing and between rings 64 and 65, into the gap between a pair of circular brake members 7 4, 75 which have brake linings 76.

Flat flexible rings 60 and 61 are located on opposite sides of brake members '74, 75 and have circular edge portions which are clamped between top and bottom parts 56, 55 housing .part '70, and rings 74 and 75 when bolts 66, 67, 71 are tightened.

Top part 56 has an annular cavity 58, and bottom part 55 has an annular cavity 57 which respectively form together with the flat circular walls 61, and 60, a pair of pressure chambers to which the pressure fluid is supplied through passages, not shown, in top part 56 and bottom part 57.

When a pressure medium is introduced into the two pressure chambers, the flexible membrane rings are resiliently deformed toward each other and press brake members 74, 75 with brake linings 76 against opposite surfaces of brake flange 80 on spindle 11 so that the same is braked. When the pressure is relieved in the pressure chambers, the flexible means 60, 61 resiliently return to the illustrated flat position in which the brake members are retracted from brake flange 80.

Brake members 74, 75 are preferably adhesively attached to the flexible means 60, 61 so as to be retracted by the same.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 has the advantage that the brake forces are directed in opposite axial directions, and counterbalance each other so that no axial or radial forces act on spindle 11.

The flexible means described with reference to all embodiments of the invention, consist of a flexible resilient elastomer, such as rubber or synthetic rubber, and have the property to return to a normal position after an elastic deformation caused by a pressure medium acting thereon.

The edge portions of the band-shaped flexible means 40, 60, 61 described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, may be provided with projections and lips 79 located in grooves of the corresponding clamping faces as described with reference to the U-shaped flexible means illustrated in FIG. 4.

It "will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of brakes for textile spindles, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a brake for a textile spindle operated by a flexible means forming with a rigid support a pressure chamber into which a pressure medium is introduced, it is not intended to 'be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A brake for a textile spindle comprising, in combination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; rigid support means having grooves; and actuating means including part annular flexible means located between said support means and said brake shoes secured to said rigid support means to form with the same a pressure chamber and having ridges located in said grooves for sealing said pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position. I

2. A brake for a textile spindle, comprising, in com bination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said sipndle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; rigid support means; and actuating means including part annular flexible means located between said support means and said brake shoes secured to said rigid support means to form with the same a pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

3. A brake for a textile spindle, comprising, in combination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes rigid support means; and actuating means including curved part annular flexible means partly surrounding said spindle and located between said support means and said brake shoes secured to said rigid support means to form with the same a pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

4. A brake for a textile spindle, comprising, in combination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; rigid support means; and actuating means including part annular flexible means including at least a partly cylindrical wall located between said support means and said brake shoes and flanges on said wall located in parallel planes perpendicular to the spindle axis secured to said rigid support means so that said flexible means forms with said rigid support means a pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

5. A brake for a textile spindle comprising, in combination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; rigid support means; and actuating means including part annular flexible means located between said support means and said brake shoes secured to said rigid support means, said flexible means including a curved wall, and said rigid support means having portions abutting the edges of said curved wall to form with the same a pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

6. A brake for a textile spindle, comprising, in combination, brake means including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging and braking said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; rigid support means; and actuating means including part annular flexible means having a U-shaped cross section located between said support means and said brake shoes and having flange portions secured to said rigid support means to from with the same a pressure chamber, and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

7. A brake for .a textile spindle, comprising, in combination, a brake housing surrounding a portion of the spindle and including rigid support means, two housing parts, and means for urging said housing parts toward said rigid support means; brake means located in said housing including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle to and from a braking position for engaging said portion for braking the spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; flexible part annular wall means partly surrounding said spindle extending in circumferential direction an angle less than 360, and located between said brake shoes and said rigid support means and having wall portions abutting said rigid support means to form with the same a pressure chamber, said housing parts abutting said wall portions, for urging the latter against said rigid support means; and means for supplying a pressure medium into said chamber for deforming said flexible wall means to move said brake shoes to said braking position.

8. A brake as set forth in claim 7 wherein said flexible wall means have a U-shaped cross section and include a wall and two flanges curved along a circle; wherein said rigid support means include a rigid member curved along a circle and located between the edge portions of said flanges; and wherein said housing includes a potshaped housing part and a bottom wall abutting one of said flanges, and a cover part abutting the other of said flanges to press said flanges against said rigid member whereby the pressure chamber between said rigid member and said flexible wall means is tightly closed.

9. A brake as set forth in claim 8 wherein said wall and flanges extend substantially 270 along a circle, wherein said flexible wall means include end walls between said flanges and said wall abutting the ends of said rigid member, and wherein said rigid member is curved and extends substantially over 270.

10. A brake as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support means includes a cylindrical wall; wherein said housing parts are two end plates; and wherein said flexible wall means has a U-shaped cross section with flange portions located between said end plates and said cylindrical wall, respectively and being clamped between the same.

11. A brake as set forth in claim 10 wherein said end plates and said cylindrical wall have grooves, and wherein said flange portions have projecting ridges located in said grooves, respectively.

12. A brake as set forth in claim 7 wherein said brake housing includes top and bottom plates having shoulders; wherein said flexible wall means is a flexible band having edges abutting said shoulders; and wherein said rigid support means is part cylindrical and has two flanges abutting said edges of said cylindrical band in the region of saidshoulders and being formed with a cavity forming said chamber with said cylindrical ring; and comprising means for urging said rigid support and said flanges toward said band.

13. A brake for a textle spindle, comprising, in combination, brake means for the spindle including a pair of curved brake shoes, said brake shoes being located on opposite sides of said spindle, and means mounting said brake shoes for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the axis of said spindle, said brake shoes having curved brake linings having a predetermined circumferential length shorter than the circumferential length of said brake shoes; and means for actuating said brake means including at least one rigid member having a cavity and an inlet passage for a pressure medium communicating with said cavity, flexible part annular resilient wall means abutting said member and closing said cavity to form a pressure chamber, and means for clamping said flexible resilient wall means against said member in fluid-tight engagement, said flexible resilent wall means being located to cooperate with said brake shoes so that a pressure medium in said pressure chamber deforms said flexible resilient wall means to a position for actuating said brake shoes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,586 5/1946 Zimmermann 188-152 X 2,453,237 11/1948 LeTourneau 188-152 2,487,117 ll/1949 Eaton 188-152 2,608,275 8/1952 Hobbs 188-152 2,710,087 6/1955 Picard 188-152 2,806,375 9/1957 Wood 92-90 X 3,083,943 4/1963 Steward et a1. 251-61 3,154,288 10/ 1964 Tripoli 251-331 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

G. E. HALVOSA, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BRAKE FOR A TEXTILE SPINDLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, BRAKE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CURVED BRAKE SHOES, SAID BRAKE SHOES BEING LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SPINDLE, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID BRAKE SHOES FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE TO AND FROM A BRAKING POSITION FOR ENGAGING AND BRAKING SAID SPINDLE, SAID BRAKE SHOES HAVING CURVED BRAKE LININGS HAVING A PREDETERMINED CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH SHORTER THAN THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH OF SAID BRAKE SHOES; RIGID SUPPORT MEANS HAVING GROOVES; AND ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING PART ANNULAR FLEXIBLE MEANS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID BRAKE SHOES SECURED TO SAID RIGID SUPPORT MEANS TO FORM WITH THE SAME A PRESSURE CHAMBER AND HAVING RIDGES AND LOCATED IN SAID GROOVES FOR SEALING SAID PRESSURE CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PRESSURE MEDIUM INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR DEFORMING SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS MOVE SAID BRAKE SHOES TO SAID BRAKING POSITION. 